Betashares ETFs have become some of the most popular building blocks for Australian investors, but popularity does not automatically make an ETF a buy.
As September begins, three of the provider's biggest funds offer very different propositions — from cheap Australian exposure to high-growth US technology and an all-in-one global portfolio.
A200: The boring ETF that keeps delivering
The BetaShares Australia 200 ETF (ASX: A200) may not be the most exciting ETF on the market, but that is precisely its appeal. The fund returned 1% over the past 12 months, 5% year-to-date and 19% over five years. It gives investors broad exposure to Australia's biggest companies like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA).
A200's standout strength is its rock-bottom 0.04% management fee, while its Funds Under Management (FUM) has climbed to around $11 billion. Its largest holdings include BHP and Commonwealth Bank, highlighting both the strength and weakness of the strategy.
For investors wanting a low-cost Australian core holding, A200 is hard to ignore. The problem is concentration. Australian equities are dominated by financials and resources, meaning investors are hardly getting a perfectly balanced slice of the economy. There is also no international exposure.
Still, after a relatively modest 12-month return, this Betashares ETF arguably looks more like a dependable long-term compounder than a momentum trade.
NDQ: The growth bet that has already run hard
If A200 is the steady option, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF (ASX: NDQ) is the adrenaline shot.
NDQ has gained 6% YTD, 11% over one year and an impressive 75% over five years. Its portfolio is packed with global technology and growth giants. Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ: NVDA) and Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) are among its biggest holdings.
That exposure has been a major strength as artificial intelligence and technology spending have surged. But it is also the fund's biggest vulnerability. Investors are paying a 0.48% management fee for a portfolio heavily tilted towards US mega-cap growth stocks.
After such a powerful five-year run, the provocative question for September is whether investors are buying tomorrow's growth or yesterday's winners.
DHHF: The one ETF to rule them all?
The BetaShares Diversified All Growth ETF (ASX: DHHF) takes a completely different approach. It returned 4.5% YTD, 6% over one year and 38% over five years. This Betashares ETF offers exposure to thousands of companies across Australian, developed and emerging markets.
Its biggest underlying exposures include A200 and BGBL, giving investors a combination of Australian and global equities in one package.
The attraction is simplicity. With around $1.6 billion in FUM and a 0.19% management fee, DHHF gives investors a diversified 100%-growth portfolio without having to assemble one themselves.
Its weakness is equally straightforward: investors surrender some control over exactly where their money goes. And because DHHF is entirely growth assets, it can still take a serious hit when global sharemarkets turn south.
For September, DHHF may be the least exciting choice, but for investors seeking simplicity and diversification, that could be exactly the point.
The post Are these 3 top Betashares ETFs a buy in September? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
Motley Fool contributor Marc Van Dinther has positions in BHP Group. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Apple, BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended BetaShares Nasdaq 100 ETF. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Apple, BHP Group, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
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